The social media posts by the elected Reform councillor for Sheldon have put the new leader to the test
07:30, 12 May 2026Updated 09:10, 12 May 2026
Reform UK new Birmingham councillor for Sheldon, Darren Colling
Birmingham Reform’s new councillor for Sheldon, Darren Colling, 56, has been slated over a series of social media comments in response to pictures of young women.
Mr Colling, newly elected to Sheldon ward for Birmingham City Council, rapidly deleted the posts from the Threads social media channel just before he was sworn in as a city councillor yesterday (Monday, May 11).
But he did not manage to do so before screenshots were made that captured him making a series of comments, under photos and videos posted by young women, including one adult woman dressed up in ‘school uniform’. They include several posted in the past 12 months.
He tells them they are ‘stunning’ or ‘yummy’ or have ‘great pins’ while in one, he says he hopes a pictured young female ‘best be taking it up the *******’.
The comments were exposed online and shared by accounts including Reform Exposed after Mr Colling was elected to one of two seats in the Sheldon ward.
READ MORE: Six huge takeaways from Birmingham City Council election as tense talks under way
The screenshots were referred to as ‘creepy’, ‘misogynistic’ and ‘vile’ in some online responses. But others said they were ‘harmless’ and described those targeting Coun Colling as ‘desperate’.
The expose was an instant test for Birmingham Reform’s newly elected leader, Jex Parkin, who was chosen by the 23-strong group of new Reform councillors to lead them. He would be the city council’s youngest ever leader if his group takes control after the current negotiations between elected groups.
His deputy is Charlie Latchford, a doctor and previously a Conservative candidate who has openly supported the movement Raise the Colours.
Coun Parkin spoke to BirminghamLive last night and said he had been made aware of the messages by Coun Colling, who posts under the social media handle ‘littledaz0303’.
“He came to me and was extremely open following my election as group leader (last night, Monday). What I would say is they do make for uncomfortable reading. My understanding is the posts were deleted before he took office (as a councillor).”
New Birmingham Reform councillor Darren Colling
“We have had a conversation and he understands his mistake. It shows the increased scrutiny that all our councillors at Reform UK are under and will be under.
“While they make uncomfortable reading, there is nothing illegal or a huge breach of conduct, and they were deleted before he took office.”
The implication was the posts could not be subject to further scrutiny by the council under its code of conduct.
Asked about the wider group of elected members now carrying the Reform name, Coun Parkin said: “We have a really good group, a strong group, they are all fantastic people who have lived real lives and they are under intense scrutiny now. From my perspective, they are all decent people, and I look forward to working with them.”
Asked if residents could have faith that as leader he would hold his councillors accountable for their actions, he said: “It is clear that any flagrant issues, or anything wildly inappropriate, will be dealt with immediately. All of our councillors passed vetting, we consider our standard of vetting to be very, very high.”
He added: “There are a handful of examples where people have slipped through this vetting (around the country) usually due to dishonesty in their applications or things that they haven’t disclosed, and those people are dealt with and dealt with effectively. We will not tolerate any kind of inappropriate behaviour.”
Jex Parkin, who has been named as Reform UK’s Birmingham leader(Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)
Mr Colling received 2,102 votes to take the first spot in the election for Sheldon ward, in Jess Phillips’ Yardley constituency.
His running mate was Rachel Ann Conaghan, who received 2,006 votes. She is pictured below with fellow Reform councillor Alan Feeney, elected in Shard End.
Alan Feeney, Reform councillor in Shard End, with Rachel Ann Conaghan, one of two Reform councillors for Sheldon
Among the candidates kept out by the pair’s success was veteran Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Tilsley, who came third with 1,719 votes. Mr Tilsley has been a councillor for 45 years and was among a group of highly experienced veteran councillors who stood down or lost their seats in the May 7 vote.
The new political makeup of the council is as follows. 51 seats are needed for a majority.
Reform UK – 23Green Party – 19Labour – 17Conservative – 16Independents – 13Liberal Democrats – 12Workers Party – 1